THE RUSSIAN OUTBREAK

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Feb 8, 1905

THE RUSSIAN OUTBREAK.

ONE of the most terrible and deplorable spectacles that has ever been witnessed of the cruelty of an autocratic government was that seen in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Sunday, January 22. A strike was on, and was spreading. The workmen, accompanied by their wives and children, were marching in a body to the palace of the emperor to lay their grievances before him, believing that his officials had blinded his eyes to their true condition and the hardships under which they labor. Their leader, a priest of the Russian Church, had led them to believe that,

if only they could reach the ear of the one whom they termed the "little father," he would listen to their case, and provide a remedy. In that faith they began their march. Cordons of troops had been thrown around the palace to prevent them from attaining their object. The commands of the military officers to halt were disregarded. The soldiers fired first blank volleys, and then followed with volleys of bullets, which mowed the people down by thousands. This work was followed up by cruel charges of the savage Cossack and Circassian cavalry companies. These rode over the masses of people, cutting them down with their sabers, and trampling them under their horses' hoofs. Women and children were made no exception in this cruel work. Twenty-six dead children of varying ages were found in one place. Persons having no connection with the crowds were ruthlessly sabered or shot down by the blood-mad troops who galloped hither and thither seeking victims. The reports indicate that over two thousand persons were killed, and five thousand wounded, as a result of the day's work.

On account of this massacre, the faith of the people in their officials is more shaken than ever, and the feeling of hatred toward their government is growing to the most dangerous extent. They have seen the futility of opposing troops with their own unarmed persons; but the spirit of revolt is growing stronger and deeper. While some factories have resumed operations, the strike is spreading to many other cities, and workmen are demonstrating in a threatening manner. Outbreaks have occurred in both Poland and Finland. Committees of revolt are working in secret for the attainment of their object, the overthrow of the government. The officials claim to believe that they have quelled the uprising; but reports indicate that most threatening fires are smouldering, and that, as soon as the people can arm themselves, there will be a time of overturn and terror in Russia. The government is taking every precaution possible, is massing all available troops in the centers of danger, and has ordered quantities of machine guns. It has also promised certain reforms, which might have helped the situation, had they come before the people were fired upon for asking them.